Pushing my personal practice forward

Work in progress 1

Work in progress 1

Work in progress 2

Work in progress 2

Work in progress 3

Work in progress 3

I’ve always wanted to work on a large scale but not always found the courage to do it. Earlier this week, I spent 3 days on Zoom studying with Katie Sollohub.

She was running a course entitled ‘Embodied Drawing’ at Seawhite Studios. Emily Ball is the owner of this set up and for this course she was participating alongside us.

https://www.emilyballatseawhite.co.uk/

“The course is for students wishing to expand their drawing practice and find new limits, beyond the scale of your average drawing, by working large, freely, involving body and breath. You will be your own model, working on two or three large scale drawings, and guided by Katie’s exercises and meditation…… By connecting the process of drawing to our own physicality, we can harness directly the power and sensations of the body to create marks. The outcome is perhaps not important, it is more about the process than the product in this course. However, the results may surprise and inspire you in your approach to drawing and painting beyond the course, helping you to discover a fresh way of working from the figure, reinventing your visual response to the physical body.”

Climbed a mountain during the course but it was so worthwhile, great group of participants worldwide and we’re staying in touch on social media, supporting and inspiring each other.

My thanks to Emily and Katie and the Seawhite team for putting this on for us. If this description inspires you, they plan to run this course again in the new year.

Latest news from my studio…

I have recently started a new body of work based on ideas and experiences that have been rattling around on the back burner of my brain for a while now.

This ongoing series are currently grouped under the heading Fires in the Mind, and make reference to the source of inspiration of Dave’s installation of the same name.

These autobiographic paintings are attempts to portray the struggles and internal dialogues I am currently going through whilst still receiving counselling to help me come to terms with the traumatic event of Dave’s death that changed absolutely everything in my life.

‘Rabbit Holes’ seeks to express the crazy internal unfocussed state of mind that I found myself enter, heightened over recent months by the solitude of lockdown restrictions.

'Fires in the Mind - Rabbit Holes'

‘Fires in the Mind – Rabbit Holes’

An easing of lockdown restrictions over this summer has highlighted to me the need to find the courage to become more earthed and focussed as the world too begins to feel its way through this pandemic that has changed everything in everyone’s lives forever.

‘Towards Awareness’ expresses the beginning signs of movement towards focus and a more frequent feeling of calm. Still sensing the omnipresent hair trigger of grief that kicks my feet from under me, the slow process of regaining my centre and grounding myself has begun.

'Fires in the Mind - Towards Awareness'

‘Fires in the Mind – Towards Awareness’

Taking Part in the Sketchbook Project Volume 17

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Excited to have received my sketchbook from Brooklyn Art Library yesterday. Looking forward to enjoying filling it in. Lots of ideas in my head but see where my pencil takes me…

Just to explain the background, Brooklyn Art Library is a non profit art organisation that has been completely funded by participation since 2006. The Brooklyn Art Library crew say

“By buying a sketchbook, you have helped us ensure that we are keeping our physical library space free and open to the public as well as our digital library accessible world wide. Your book will be joining our collection of 50,000 artists books from 130 different countries. This project is meant to encourage creative storytelling, within a global community.”

https://brooklynartlibrary.org/

 

Society of Women Artists 159th Annual Exhibition now open online

 Exhibition now open.

The Society of Women Artists
159th Annual Open Exhibition – Online
Honoured to have four pieces of my work selected for this years exhibition which received very high numbers of entries.
You can see the exhibition online from the 22nd September -
31 December 2020
Vote for your favourite painting by clicking the Public Choice Voting button below your favourite artwork.

Remembering Past Successes

2011: SWA The 150th  Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London

2011: SWA The 150th Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London

 

In 2011 I was thrilled to receive the St Cuthberts Mill Award from Princess Michael of Kent. This was before I was elected to full membership of The Society of Women Artists in 2012.

In 2015 my painting ‘Blues Saxophonist’ won the Frank Herring Easel Award.

 

 

 

2014: SWA The153rd Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London. Princess Michael of Kent and then Director Sue Jelley

2014: SWA The 153rd Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London. Princess Michael of Kent and then Director Sue Jell

Four paintings selected for the Society of Women Artists 2020 Exhibition

Really pleased to have four paintings selected this year. Unfortunately the exhibition is not able to go ahead at the Mall Galleries due to the current Covid-19 situation.

The Society of Women Artists thank the Mall staff for all their support and look forward to showing there next year with a stronger show than ever.

The exhibition will be open online from Tuesday 22nd September until Wednesday 30th December 2020.

www.society-women-artists.org.uk

Ebb and Flow 2   Ebb and Flow 3Ebb and Flow 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vertigo Surf 2

 

 

Honoured to be selected for membership of the Royal Watercolour Society of Wales

I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to exhibit alongside other professional artists whose work contains a focus on the versatility of water-based media on paper.

Showcasing my work within the Society’s lively exhibition programme at quality exhibition venues both within Wales and internationally, will bring new audiences to my work.

https://www.royalwatercoloursocietywales.com/

Being Inquisitive

 Image: ‘Being Inquisitive’

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‘Birth/Rebirth’ Exhibition at Boundary Art, Cardiff

Very pleased to have four paintings selected by Cate Cheng, gallery director, for the forthcoming exhibition ‘BIRTH/REBIRTH’ at Boundary Art in Cardiff Bay, a unique combined gallery and tea room.                                                                                               Exhibition runs from 25 March to 6 May 2017, gallery open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. (Closed Monday and Tuesday.) www.boundaryart.com   Photos will be posted as soon as available!                                                                                                  The East/West philosophy of the gallery links in with my long term personal interest in Asian culture, and my study and practice of Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong.                                 Further Information about Boundary Art                                                                           Cardiff’s newest art space, Boundary Art opened in 2015 and devotes itself to the fusion of communication and promotion between Western and Chinese cultures. The gallery is fast developing a reputation for dynamic and distinctive programming to support artists from across the visual spectrum and from across Wales and beyond. Visitors have the unique opportunity to browse original art works and to relax in their Chinese tea room.

The core ideology of Boundary Art has always been about the communication and trans-boundary of the arts, culture and thoughts. The gallery offers an international platform for artists, curators and writers and welcomes all audiences, aiming to encourage everyone to engage with art, prompting questions and supporting debate.

French Musician Philippe Lauters composes music inspired by my paintings

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmWnxD2_HG8&feature=youtu.be

Call of the coast - 61cm by 61cm - mixed media

Click on the link to view the video. So touched that she found my work of interest, do look at her other YouTube films.

‘Spring Collection’ exhibition at Art Matters Gallery, Tenby

Just delivered 4 paintings to John and Margaret in sunny Tenby for the first show after their winter break. Always good to feel Spring is on its way!   Exhibition runs from February 11th to 28th March.  The gallery winter opening hours are 10am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Gallery closed on Sunday and Wednesday.) Further information including images of the entire exhibition are on the website https://artmatters.org.uk/ 

Chrysalis